Pinder forced to look a storm in the eye

Inclement weather in France nearly left a number of UK designers stuck up mountains over the holiday period.

Mark Pinder, business development director of C Eye, certainly had a Millennium Eve he won’t forget.

His French skiing trip took an unexpected turn when storms left him with no electricity or heating. Huddled indoors, trying to keep warm and dry in temperatures just above freezing, the striking of Big Ben must have seemed a little irrelevant.

Julia James of Conran Design Group avoided the worst flooding by flying back from the French Alps via Geneva. But her companions, who chose to return by car, had to turn round and head back to the hills.

But international skiing can’t hold a candle in the glamour stakes to the New Year’s Eve celebrations indulged in by Clinic’s Anton Pace.

In a bid to help one of his over-excited children get to sleep, Pace tipsily donned his pyjamas and dressing gown for a bedtime story. Deciding that changing back into more conventional clothes would waste partying time, he then rejoined his black tie party as he was for the rest of the night.